Lev was born in 1934 in the village of Sinyavino (Mga district, Leningrad region). In 1957 he graduated from Leningrad State Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinema (actors' class of Boris Zon). In 1957-1961 he played in the Theatre for Young Audience (Riga, Latvia). In 1989-1991 he was an actor of the Monologue Theatre “Experiment”.

Since 1961 he has been an actor of the state concert organization “St. Petersburg-Concert”. He performs in several solo performances based on world poetry and prose. In 1970 – beginning of 1990s he played in episodes of TV productions and movies produced by Leningrad studios.

Parts in Sokurov's films:

1999 – the Majordomo in MOLOCH
2000 – the Doctor in TAURUS
2002 – the Actor in RUSSIAN ARK